Mindslaver ToolkitHow it works & interactions with other cards

Passing the Torch

The first ability of Mindslaver Toolkit is simple: tap it to give control of it to a target opponent. This does not change who owns the card, only who currently controls it on the battlefield. Because it costs zero mana to cast, it can be deployed early to entice opponents or to get it out of your hair before a board wipe.

The Price of X

The second ability is a modal activated ability where you choose any number of the three listed effects. When you activate this ability, you choose a value for X and which modes you want to apply. Upon resolution, you perform the chosen actions in the order they are listed: first you lose life, then you discard cards, then you sacrifice permanents. You must be able to perform the actions for the chosen X; for example, you cannot choose to sacrifice 5 permanents if you only control 3.

Strategic Discard and Sacrifice

A common mistake is assuming you must choose all three modes. You can choose just one, two, or all three. If you choose all three and set X to 3, you will lose 3 life, discard 3 cards, and sacrifice 3 permanents. This makes it an incredibly flexible tool for strategies that benefit from a full graveyard or having fewer permanents than your opponents.

When to Activate

Timing is crucial. Since the second ability requires tapping the toolkit, you cannot pass control and use the X ability in the same turn without untap effects. Usually, you want to use the X ability when you have specific death triggers or discard payoffs ready to resolve, or just before you lose control of the artifact to an opponent's effect.

Interaction examples

Accelerating the Toolkit

Sol Ring

With a Sol Ring on the battlefield, you can tap it to add two colorless mana. You can then spend that mana to activate Mindslaver Toolkit's second ability with X equal to 2. You could choose to lose 2 life and sacrifice 2 permanents (including the Sol Ring itself if you wish) to trigger any 'leaves the battlefield' abilities you might have.

Equipping for Value

Skullclamp

If you have a creature equipped with Skullclamp, you can activate Mindslaver Toolkit and choose the sacrifice mode with X=1. By sacrificing the equipped creature, Skullclamp's ability triggers, allowing you to draw two cards. This allows you to turn the Toolkit's downside into a card-drawing engine.

Single Mode Utility

If you simply need to empty your hand for a specific effect, you can activate Mindslaver Toolkit with X equal to the number of cards in your hand and select only the discard mode. You will discard your hand and lose no life and sacrifice no permanents, provided you have the mana to pay for X.